KaraLynne Mackrory: Mr. Darcy Was a Feminist

Welcome KaraLynne Mackrory (Another of the 27 Authors Participating in the Upcoming Decatur Book Festival) to Darcyholic Diversions...

12 Days to Go till Decatur Book Festival!)

Hi, Darcyholics!  Today, we have KaraLynne Mackrory with us.  I will get to know her in person in a little less than 12 days at the Decatur Book Festival.  But I am very happy to have a chance to get to know her better today.  I am happy to welcome her back to Darcyholic Diversions today!

The information on Decatur Book Festival was updated recently, so visit the link again and find out all the details as well as where YOU can stay as we are so excited to have 27--yes TWENTY-SEVEN Austen Inspired Authors participating with us!  Here is the link! It included information about a large hotel room block you can take advantage of if you would like to be with us!  If you are planning on attending and are not one of our authors, please send me an email to barbaratillercole@gmail.com so I can send you information out our social events during the festival weekend.

 The DBF Event Link.  

I am also announcing initial plans for a Darcyholic Holiday eBook Festival.  More Information to come, but send me an email at barbaratillercole@gmail.com if you are an author and would like to participate!!

Upcoming Guest Posts Are As Follows:

August 21--Sally Smith O'Rourke

August 24--Pamela Aidan

August 26--Reposting Decatur Book Festival Author Links!

August 28--Jack Caldwell

August 31--Decatur Book Festival Eve!

September 2--Live from the Decatur Book Festival

September 4--Fun Stories from the DBF

September 7--Jack Caldwell's Experiences at the DBF

September 11--Karen Cox's Experiences at the DBF

September 14--Mary Simonsen
September 18--Amber G.

September 21--Moira B.

November 2--Amy Patterson

November 13--Karen Doornebos

And Many more to come!

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KaraLynne is giving away one copy of her book, Falling For Mr. Darcy, available to all including International. Comments count as entries, but additional chances will be given for joining this site, tweeting this post, joining this site as a member via Google Friend Connect (GFC) (See the left hand column on the blog to join!), sharing this on Facebook or your blog, Friend Barbara Tiller Cole on Facebook, clicking 'like’ on Barbara Tiller Cole, Author's Facebook page, Join Darcyholic Diversions Facebook Page or following BarbTCole on Twitter.

Mr. Darcy was a Feminist.

One the greatest things about Jane Austen’s era, to me, is the whole concept of gentlemanly honor.  This honor was wrapped up in the way they treated others, specifically women.  They were expected to be honest, polite, respectful and courteous.  They assisted women up and down from their seats in carriages and sofas.  They did not seat themselves if a lady was without one.  Their ability to call themselves ‘honorable’ was nearly hinged entirely on this behavior.  Jane Austen wrote many male characters in her books that demonstrated various degrees of this gentlemanly honor.  Some, like Willoughby or Wickham, could behave as gentlemen in public but did not always allow that behavior to honor their private conduct.  Others, like Edmund Bertram or Mr. Darcy, always acted honorably with ladies. 

                  Today, the expected behavior between men and women has changed.  Women have come a long way towards equal treatment in many ways with regards to men.  We can vote, own property, have retribution against abuses leveled against us, and prevent pregnancy if we want.  Sadly, in my opinion, with all these wonderful feminine advances, we have lost a touch of the gallant behavior from the men.  The custom to treat a woman with delicacy has almost been lost.  Now, I may be old fashioned (or Jane Austen fashioned) and I am certainly not delicate but I will be the first to say that I love it when a man treats me with chivalry – opening doors, offering an arm, etc.  I do not think these behaviors lesson my value as a woman because I am being treated thus.  In fact, it only intensifies my value as a woman.  Let them revere me, I am only made more worthy because of it.

                  I first became introduced to Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley in my 10^th grade English class.  I was surrounded by hormonal, pubescent burp machines commonly known as a species called “teenage boys.”  It seemed only natural that I would find the gallant and reserved Mr. Darcy attractive.  Even when he was acting all prideful and aloof in the beginning of the book, I found him far more attractive then the Belch Brothers sitting in the desks next to me.   There was no contest between “You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you” and “Uhh, [scratch unmentionable] your hot.” (Naturally, I believe even spoken, they would have used the wrong ‘your.’)

                  Thus started a love affair for me with the world of Pride and Prejudice and Jane Austen.  As happens to many in their lives, I did for some time, lose sight of those wished-for characteristics in a gentleman.  It wasn’t until many years later when my own Mr. Darcy walked into my life that I remembered how I wanted to (nay, MUST) be treated as a lady.  My husband courted me, wooed me and won me with his gentlemanly ways.  No big surprise, after only ten years of marriage, we are still blissfully happy.  When we married, I gave him an old leather-bound edition of Pride and Prejudice I bought online from England. 

                 Through the years I also read the other classics from Jane Austen, loving every one, except Sense and Sensibility (naturally).  Only a few years ago I discovered the delightful world of Jane Austen Fan Fiction.  I’ve read pretty much every book out there Austen related.  Enter – my own creation in the genre – Falling For Mr. Darcy.  The creation of this book was started as a feel good, giggle fest with friends.  I wrote the first chapter based off of a dream I had and the rest for the sole delight of me and my friends.  It is amazing to have it published and I am thrilled to have the chance to share my own fanciful mind with the talents already out there. 

                  Now allow me to return to my title, Mr. Darcy was a Feminist.  I feel that the truest form of feminism is this gentlemanly conduct towards women.  Mr. Darcy had his faults (his pompous behind –however adorably clad in clingy pants – and initial pride) but no man is perfect.  However, if their intentions are honorable and their behavior is gentlemanly, I think we as ladies can forgive them whatever faults they may have (as long as they wear those breeches) and welcome them as feminist in today’s world.    

About me:

KaraLynne is an amazing mother who never makes mistakes, never gets upset with her children and never ever has a dirty house. Ever. She always has her dishes done and the floors spotless and dinner is always prepared and ready on time. Her kids are always clean, polite, respectful and loving, especially to each other. She never gets irritated with her husband when he doesn’t turn his socks right side out for the laundry and they always agree on everything. She delights in nothing else but to serve her family and never wants or needs time for herself. She takes great care to shower every day and put make up on so that she is always beautiful and presentable. She never wears her pajamas all day or for days in a row and she is the epitome of womanhood. Most of all, she has a great sense of humor and loves to write.

Falling for Mr. Darcy, coming Spring 2012, is KaraLynne’s first venture in to the world of book authorship.  Although, admittedly a Darcy addict, she enjoys many things, such as: Mr. Knightly, Edmund Bertram, Captain Wentworth, Mr. Tilney and John Thornton.  She is happily married to her own Mr. Darcy and together they share the insanity inducing responsibility of raising three children.

Falling For Mr. Darcy

In this Regency adaptation of Jane Austen’s beloved Pride and Prejudice, the simple truth is proven that sometimes a gentleman never knows his heart until a lady comes along to introduce it to him.  When Mr. Darcy encounters Elizabeth Bennet injured after a fall, his concern for her welfare cracks the shell of his carefully guarded heart and a charming man emerges.   Elizabeth sees an appealing side of him she never believed possible from the stoic, proud master of Pemberley.  They find the simple gentlemanly act of assisting her home will test both Mr. Darcy’s resolve to keep his heart safe and Elizabeth’s conviction that this is the last man on earth she might have ever been prevailed upon to marry.  Soon, falling for Mr. Darcy becomes a real possibility.

Falling For Mr. Darcy on Amazon